ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 114485
Last updated: 19 May 2013
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Date:07-MAY-1951
Time:7:10
Type:North American RB-45C Tornado
Operator:323d SRS, 91st SRG, 91st SRW USAF
Registration: 48-030
C/n / msn: 153-38506
Fatalities:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:4mi NE of Ellington AFB, TX -   United States of America
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Ellington AFB, TX
Destination airport:Barksdale AFB, LA
Narrative:
Shortly after taking off from Ellington AFB, the RB-45C exploded due to mechanical failure during a turn in a height of about 1,500 feet. Three crew members were killed, while the co-pilot Lt. Bob Hampton survived not seriously injured after decending in his parachute after being blown clear from the aircraft. The burning wreckage was scattered over a muddy pasture a few miles southeast of Houston.

Three crew members were killed:
Pilot 1/Lt. Claude L. Couk, age 23, of Cherryvale, Kan., husband of Mrs. Hildegarde Couk, Shreveport, La.
Navigator Maj. Robert Carl Reece, age 35, of Phoenix, Ariz., husband of Mrs. Roberta Reece of Bossier City, La.
Navigator Maj. Jerome M . Rappaport, age 36, of El Cajon, Calif., husband of Mrs. Julia Rappaport, Bossier City, La.

Sources:
http://www3.gendisasters.com/texas/18244/ellington-tx-b-45-bomber-explosion-may-1951
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html


Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
15-Feb-2013 05:06 Tetrapack Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total occupants, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
Number of views: 579

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